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Cindy Ojczyk's avatar

My first foster dog, Poet, was the most challenging to date. He came to me as an unaltered, 3 year old found wandering the streets. I'm confident his previous family was tired of him peeing and pooping in the house and not abiding to the rules. Although, my guess is they did not establish any boundaries. Three years is a long time to live by your own creed then be cast into expectation. The good news was that every dog after him was easier!

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Kristi Keller 🇨🇦's avatar

Ugh that makes me sad that his life before you was so crappy. Or maybe it wasn't but he clearly wasn't taught how to live with humans.

What a great name for a dog...Poet. 😊

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Cindy Ojczyk's avatar

I suspect he is like a lot of dogs who end up in shelters because of people who didn’t invest the time to teach them how to live with humans. I believe there are parallels to kids/teens who run away or get in trouble with the law. While the reasons are complicated, sometimes it’s just because the parents didn’t have the skills or the drive to give them what they needed to thrive.

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Jennifer Ward Dudley's avatar

I never babysat a human baby except my children let alone a labradoodle. I’m a purest 🤣 when it comes to my furry buddies. Newfs and black labs. God save a babysitter with Bear the newf (rip) food aggressive and insisted attention . Btw Alvin my English black lab wakes me every morning at 615. I’m up with a smile. Insane? Nah. An early start !

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Kristi Keller 🇨🇦's avatar

In my experience, all the doodles I've encountered are pretty neurotic and weird 🤣

Unfortunately, I can't be a purist. My conscience will only allow me to adopt mixed breed rescue mutts. Based on where I live they've probably all had coyote and snow leopard in their blood lol!! Thankfully, all of them lived long, drama-free lives 🤣 Although, my current nerd is unlike any other in her neediness and weird behaviors 😁

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Good Humor by CK Steefel's avatar

Awww. Harley sounds like a sweetie. I wonder if it’s harder to watch someone else’s dog kinda like babysitting someone else’s kid. I was more protective of another mom’s kid than my own. Hehe.

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Kristi Keller 🇨🇦's avatar

Hahahaa I think dogs are smart enough to test boundaries for sure. I could be wrong but mine tests limits all the time. Usually I give in. 😁

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Cerina Triglavcanin's avatar

So Harley was a blessing in disguise! Love your story!!

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Kristi Keller 🇨🇦's avatar

Indeed he was. I watched him again a couple years after this and he was a completely different dog after his puppy-ness wore off 💗

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Teri Leigh 💜's avatar

Harley is a perfect gentlemen, save the shoes in bins (brilliant) necessity!

Now oven mitts to deal with a dog, that’s a story. Having just recently been bit twice by a guest dog at my house, ouch!

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Kristi Keller 🇨🇦's avatar

Lol yeah I may write about the oven mitts in a future post. The dog was tiny, maybe only a few pounds but man....what an attitude!

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Teri Leigh 💜's avatar

I recently got bit by a dog. It didn’t break skin, but the bruise was tender for two weeks. OUCH!

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